Becky’s thoughts on our July Webinar ‘HIV Update’…
The thought that one day HIV treatment could require a long-acting injection would have been unbelievable 20 years ago. HIV treatment has developed from when people were taking loads of tablets to the majority needing just 1 or 2 pills a day and now we are talking about injectables! That's amazing! The panelists at the webinar, Dr Ewan Hunter and Catherine Meyfroidt presented a really clear and exciting update on the injectable treatment for HIV. The injectable has been talked about for a long time and it's close to being a reality as it’s now licenced in the UK. This injectable will be good especially for people with fear of disclosure, or for those who don’t want the daily reminder of their diagnosis which comes with taking medication every day, or for those of us who struggle with adherence. The results from trials for the injectables are really positive and it is hoped that it will be commissioned for use here sometime around Easter 2022. You won’t have to make the switch to injectables, but this is about giving us more choice and control over our health and what works best for each of us.
The question people will be asking is 'How would someone switch to injectables'? You would start by discussing with your healthcare team, to make sure injectables are best for you. Then the switch begins. First, you would be switched to the tablet of the injection for a month to ascertain that the new medication will suit you and your body will tolerate it. as it is likely to be different from the medication you are currently taking. Secondly, if that goes smoothly, you will be given the injection monthly for the first 2 months and then every two months after that. This will be given via two jabs into a part of the body that has a big muscle i.e. the thigh or the bum. This would mean people having to come into hospital every 2 months to take the injection. Another question is 'How then would people know about this'? I would expect to be told by my clinician or HIV support team. There should be discussion in the clinics, support services and among peers so that the word would be out there and people can make informed decisions about taking the injectables. So... injectables are coming and if you want to know more and whether they might be right for you - make sure you speak to your clinic and get your questions answered.
There’s a link to some more info from UK-CAB below.